Kailash Kher

Marital Status: In 2009, he married Sheetal and has a son named Kabir.

Biography: Kher one of the prominent singers of the present generation is known for his powerful and earthy voice.The sufi touch and the rawness of his voice has scored him a unique stature amongst the recent contemporaries. Kher born in Meerut belongs to family of kashmiri roots. His father Pandit Mehar Singh Kher was a famous folk musician. He struggled very hard in order to carve his niche and overcame critical times in his journey from oblivion to reverence. Kher was interested in music and singing since early childhood as he gave out early performances before friends and family. Kher was quite determined and bent on learning music seriously and left home when only 14, to take proper lessons from a guru or any institution.

But he settled to listening music on not finding the right teacher. At this point, he began listening to classical Indian music of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Kumar Gaurav, Pandit Gokulotsav Maharaj also Lata Mangeshkar, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and others from which he a started learning. He had to suffice for himself and taught music earning Rs 150 for each session which would take care of his expenses. Kher had to join the export business on his family’s insistence. But as the business failed he went into depression and moved to Singapore for a brief period. Later he completed his graduation from Delhi University through distance learning course. While his stay in Delhi he met brother musicians Paresh Kamath and Naresh Kamath in a concert, with them he would later form his band Kailasa.

He shifted to the land of dreams, Mumbai in 2001 and this is when his career started taking shape with little steps. He was recommended to Ram Sampat and gave his voice to the Nakshatra jingle for which he received about Rs 5000. And followed singing in advertisements like Honda, Pepsi, Coca-cola, IPL and Citibank and some radio commercials also. But the road to Bollywood was still far and his first track arrived with ‘Rabba Ishq Na Hove’ from Andaaz (2003) which was quite appreciated. As Bollywood welcomed Kher slowly and steadily, his song ‘Allah Ke Bande’ was a roaring success and there was no turning back for him from there. And over time, he became one of the sought after playback singer of the industry. He has as long list of movies he has worked for and some the movies are Khaki (2004), Swades (2004), Kisna (2005), Mangal Pandey: The Rising (2005), Fanaa (2006), Delhi Heights (2007), Salaam-e-Ishq (2007), Ajab Prem Ki Gajaab Kahani (2009), Kaminey (2009), Karthik calling Karthik (2010), Tere naal Love Ho Gaya. Kher in the meantime has sang for the Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film industry and at present he has sang in about 18 languages and more than 400 songs. Other than play back singing Kher has turned into music composer for Dasvidaniya (2008), Dhol, Oye lucky lucky Oye, Darling, Chandni Chowk to China (2009), Dil Bole Hadippa, Kurukshetra and some others. He also penned lyrics for Kaal (2005), Dasvidaniya, Traffic Signal (2007) and Chandni Chowk to China.

Apart from singing for movies his band Kailassa comprised of Kher himself and Naresh and Paresh has come out with hugely successful albums ‘Kailasa’ ‘Jhoomo Re’ ‘Chandan Mein’ and the latest ‘Rangeele’. Each of the albums has done extremely well and encouraging critical reviews. ‘Teri Deewani’, ‘Saiyaan’, ‘Tauba Tauba’, ‘Jhoomo Re’, ‘Babbaji’ are some of the remarkable songs of the band which have been very popular on music charts.

Kher performed globally in more than 800 concerts over the span of eight years along with his band Kailassa. They have performed in UK, Kenya, Pakistan and Bangladesh very recently. Kailassa had enthralled audiences in New York, San Fransico, Los Angeles, Toronto, Brimingham. Kher had joined the likes of Asha Bhonsle, Kunal Ganjawala and Sonu Nigam in ‘The Incredibles’ touring North America. He also sang in the Commonwealth Games 2010, in the concluding ceremony.

Kher delved into the television, acting as the judge in reality shows like Sony’s Indian Idol, Zee Tv’s Saregama Lil Champs, Colors’s Rockstar and also participated in Mtv’s Coke Studio.